A Passion for Elephants: the real life adventure of field scientist Cynthia Moss by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Holly Berry

Summary: Cynthia Moss was never afraid of BIG things. That’s the recurring refrain in this story of scientist Cynthia Moss, who grew up riding horses in Virginia and went on to become a journalist. An invitation from a college friend sent her to Africa, where she got a job photographing elephants for a zoologist. This ignited a passion, and she began to recognize individual elephants and their families. She went on to found the Amboseli Elephant Research Project and made many new discoveries about elephant behavior. Eventually, concerned about the decline of elephant populations caused by poaching, Cynthia became an activist, working to get a global ban on the sale of ivory in 1990. Her work continues today, both researching and protecting the elephants she loves. Back matter includes further information about Moss, further reading, and additional sources. Grades K-3.

Pros: An inspiring biography of a scientist who has made a difference. Less well-known the Jane Goodall, Cynthia Moss’s career parallels hers, in her long years studying animals in Africa and her work around the world to protect them. The colorful illustrations would make this a great read-aloud to share with kids.

Cons: The most recent source listed in the additional resources is from 2010.